Disability Services

The Rehabilitation Act of 1974 (Section 504) states that qualified students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations. If you require services, contact the Director of Disability Services (DDS) at: 

Office of Disability Services
P.O. Box 500
Milligan College, TN  37682
423.461.8981
 

NOTIFICATION OF DISABILITIES

It is the responsibility of the student to notify the school of his or her disability and to follow the process for requesting appropriate auxiliary services and academic adjustments.

1. Entering students should submit a written request for auxiliary aids to the DDS prior to matriculation at Milligan College.  A current student who discovers the need for accommodations may submit a request at any point during his or her academic career. 

2. Along with the written request, the student must provide documentation of the disability. This documentation must be prepared by a medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified diagnostician as appropriate.

3. Complete documentation should include a diagnosis of the current disability, the date of this diagnosis, how the diagnosis was reached, the credentials of the diagnosing professional, how this diagnosis affects a major life activity, and how the disability affects the student's academic performance.

4. If available, the student should submit other documentation such an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) or a section 504 plan from high school. Milligan prefers these plans to be dated within the past three years of submission.
 

GENERAL CONSIDERSATIONS:

1. Upon receipt of requests for auxiliary aids, the DDS will procure recommendations from a professional counselor or occupational therapist as appropriate.

2. In all cases, the age of the student, thoroughness of the documentation, and adjustments being requested will assist in determining whether the evidence submitted is sufficient for eligibility. If more documentation is required, the student will be informed.

3. Based on the documentation and evaluation, the DDS will notify faculty members each semester of specific auxiliary aids and/or academic adjustments that are to be granted.

4. When a student's documentation is lacking or insufficient or is considered outdated, it may be necessary to secure a new evaluation. The need for such an evaluation will be established by the college professional reviewing the request. In such cases, the student will be referred to a local physician or psychologist for evaluation. It shall be the student's responsibility to secure the needed evaluation by sufficiently trained physicians or psychologists. Without the completion of this step, the college will assume no responsibility for providing requested academic adjustments.

5. Students will be notified of their status (eligible, ineligible, deferred) after the college professionals have reviewed the documentation. If the student is ineligible or deferred, the notification letter will explain what is missing. If a student is determined eligible, then it is the student's responsibility to make an appointment with the DDS to discuss reasonable adjustments. Adjustments will not be initiated prior to this meeting (i.e. priority registration, extended time on tests, etc.). 

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

1. In cases where either faculty members or students believe that the recommended auxiliary aids have been established in error, or where extenuating circumstances are present that are not adequately addressed in the documentation, an appeal may be made in writing to the ADA Committee and submitted to the DDS.

2. Students who have been granted adjustments and believe they are not receiving them should appeal in writing to the ADA Committee and submit the letter to the DDS.

3. The ADA Committee will convene within one week of receipt of the request, unless during a holiday recess, and will notify the student of its determination in a timely manner. If necessary, the ADA Committee may ask for additional information from the student in order to make a well-informed decision.